Reaping, mowing, or binding machine finger.



No. 731,344. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903 R. GRESSWELL.

REAPING, MOWING, OR BINDING MACHINE FINGEE.

APPiIOATIONIILE-D FEB. 25. 1903.

110 MODEL.

fl R. Gresswell.

' aitzvrrwys.

Witnesses.

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT Fries,

REAPING, MOWING, OR BINDING MACHINE FINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,344, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed February 25,1903. Serial No. 145,074. (No model.)

in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in reaping, mowing, and binding machine fingers adapted to facilitate the action of the cutting-knife upon the crop to be dealt with. In ordinary machines the fingers tend to override heavy crops, in dealing with which an auxiliary finger has been employed, but not with entirely satisfactory results, free grain and rubbish being then frequently so collected as to choke the knife. I provide neither an ordinary nor an auxiliary finger, but a steel or other finger of special construction having edges converging to a point in front, but having its rear crested and recessed, forming projections, the upper projection or horn rising high above the lower or heel, which has means to fasten the finger to the machine. Extending inward from the aforesaid recess is a groove in which is secured a ledger-plate, above which plate the knife which cuts the crop reciprocates, while rubbish orloose grain picked up by the machine falls clear of the finger, and thus the knife is not choked in the groove.

The accompanying drawings illustrate this invention in a form suitable for the Deering type of machine.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of'the rear half (or thereabout) of a finger. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionon line a of Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a plan with a part near the point and a part of the hornbroken away.

The construction is not limited to the precise form shown, but may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention, which is applicable to numerous types of the machines aforesaid.

A is the finger, having upper and lower edges converging to a point A and having means, as hole 13, through which a bolt may be passed to fasten it to the bar of the machine. The rear of the finger is crested, as shown, the crest terminating in a born 0, while the lower projecting heel of the finger is marked D. Extending forward from the recess E, located between C and D, is a groove F, removably secured in which is the ledgerplate G, over which the cutting-knife of the machine reciprocates.

All the fingers of the machine may be substantiallyas above described, or it may suffice in some cases to alternate my fingers with ordinary fingers.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A finger for harvesting-machines and g the like, comprising a body portion having converging upper and lower edges, the upper edge terminating in a horn and the lower edge in a heel, a recess being formed in the rear of said body portion between said horn and heel, a narrow web-section formed between and connecting said upper and lower edges and a removable ledger-plate secured in a groove extending forwardly from said recess.

2. A finger for harvesters and the like, comprising a body portion having an enlarged overhanging upper edge inclined downwardly toward the point of the finger, and a lower edge inclined upwardly toward the point of the finger, a recess being formed in the rear portion of the finger between said upper and lower edges, forming a horn upon the rear portion of said upper edge, a narrow web-section formed between said upper and loweredges, a heelupon the rear portion of said lower edge, and a ledger-plate removably secured in a forwardly-extending groove in said'finger.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT ORESSWELL.

Witnesses:

R. M. OALLUM, W. G. WAKELIN, 

